Tag Archives: Quattro

This Audi Quattro racer with its grungy dystopian aesthetics is what the Mad Max sequel needs!

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Automotive lovers who are acquainted with Audi surely know about Quattro. The all-wheel-drive road vehicle burst into the scene in 1980, and ten million Quattro (derived from the word four-wheel-drive system) drive cars have hit the road. Based on this adventurous progression, Audi has built the electrified version of the powertrain for future mobility. This Quattro H 1993 concept designed by 3D specialist Federico Ciuffolini superimposes the vision of a dystopian future where Mad Max-like vehicles will fight for domination of resources on the planet. I can’t help but see the racing DNA of the R18 E-Tron Quattro being the inspiration for the design here.

The Quattro H 1993 concept car defines the evolution of racing culture in a world where the dynamics of lifestyle are completely radical from current times. Federico creates the blueprint with fiberglass, Kevlar, and carbon fiber construct for the ideal weight to power ratio. A powerful drivetrain and engine demand good airflow, so the use of naca and ram ducts is truly justified, hence eliminating the need to run the aero. The Quattro’s cell is made out of isolated monocoque for structural integrity and connects to the main chassis with a heavy-duty gasket.

Ballast is used to lower the cockpit barycenter to align the pilot (giving dampened solicitations) when lateral g-forces take effect at high-speed cornering. The result is a car with a very stiff and low-slung positioning on the road for maximum grip. A true racer at heart, the Quattro H 1993 amalgams the past and present racing DNA into a car of the future set in an uncertain world.

Designer: Federico Ciuffolini

A Whole Lot of Light

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The latest in Studio Beam’s lux D-light collection, the Quattro pendant is a substantial addition to any workstation, kitchen or other commercial space. With its metal grill cover, MDF body and handled supports, it has a distinct industrial vibe contrasted with a variety of playful colors customized to the consumer’s liking. Fitted with a high power LED module for upward or downward lighting, its variable illumination intensity can be adapted to the requirements of any area.

Designer: Studio Beam

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Hands-on with the Coolpad Quattro II 4G and 8920

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Handson with the Coolpad Quattro II 4G and 8920

CTIA 2013 seems to be dedicated to some of the lesser-known names in the US wireless industry, so it's fit that Chinese manufacturer Coolpad should take advantage of the situation to steal the show. Indeed, we were able to take a look at the phone maker's upcoming stateside model, the lower-end Quattro II 4G. In the past year, its predecessor cranked out roughly a million units on MetroPCS, and Coolpad is hoping to build upon that success to get a foothold in the US. This sequel, which offers stock Android 4.1.2 with a 4.5-inch qHD TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8930 chip, 5MP rear camera and VGA front-facing cam, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage and a 1,800mAh battery, isn't going to satisfy the tastebuds of power users or high-end flagship seekers, but it's a quality option for those who aren't planning to spend a ton of money on a decent handset. Given the intended audience, the device is perfectly solid with reasonable performance; we appreciated the company's use of a textured back cover. One nitpick: despite our best efforts to get rid of fingerprints, smudges remained with no hope of removal in sight.

Coolpad wasn't able to give many details on pricing or availability, but reps confirmed that it should arrive on C Spire in late June / early July, with it likely hitting other regional prepaid carriers after. Given the original Quattro's $80 price point on MetroPCS last year, we wouldn't be surprised to see the next-gen version offered for around the same cost. The company's still working to expand its presence on some of the larger networks, but it hopes to make its debut in the postpaid world early next year.

Gallery: Coolpad Quattro II 4G hands-on

Gallery: Coolpad 8920 hands-on

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BLU Products unveils Tegra 3-running Quattro 4.5, 4.5 HD and 5.7 HD

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BLU Products unveils Tegra 3running Quattro 45, 45 HD and 57 HD

It was just weeks ago that BLU Products' smartphones were largely dual-core models like the Vivo 4.65 HD. The company clearly wants to ramp things up, as it's kicking off the Quattro line based around Android 4.0 and the quad-core, 1.5GHz Tegra 3. At the entry level is the $250 Quattro 4.5, which includes a qHD display at its namesake size as well as a 5-megapixel camera, 4GB of built-in storage and a microSD slot. The next step is, unusually, the biggest: the $300 Quattro 5.7 HD (what you see above) keeps the same storage, but jumps to the extra-large category while upgrading to a 720p display and an 8-megapixel camera. BLU sees the $350 Quattro 4.5 HD as the real darling. It beats its non-HD cousin with a curved, 720p screen touting Gorilla Glass, and throws in a larger 16GB capacity as well as a more light-sensitive 8-megapixel camera. The two smaller models ship to the US early this month, to be followed by the 5.7-inch behemoth in late March. When they arrive, every one of them will carry unlocked HSPA+ 3G that supports both AT&T and T-Mobile.

Gallery: BLU Quattro 4.5, 4.5 HD and 5.7 HD

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Source: BLU Products

Audi goes arty, crafts A4 replica slot cars for ‘quattro experience’ installation (video)

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Audi goes arty, crafts A4 replica slot cars for 'quattro experience' installation

Audi and art? Those two worlds aren't ones we'd necessarily lump together. But the luxury car-maker's done just that, collaborating with Slot Mods USA to create the "quattro experience," an installation replete with remote controllable A4 replicas and a custom track. Let's be clear, though, this is no mere hobbyist recreation. As the accompanying mini-documentary shows, the team behind this project not only put great care into constructing the 20ft x 7ft custom track with the right bends, it also faithfully crafted the slot cars so as to mimic the Audi quattro's all wheel drive mechanic.

So, how'd they do that? Through a combo of 3D printing, a four-wheel drive chassis and, most importantly, a calculated arrangement of traction magnets, the crew was able to get the cars up and running, and even outfitted with in-dash cams. And, in an appropriate modernist twist, there's an app for all of that -- a custom one designed by Audi that runs on the iPad and lets "drivers" steer via a POV feed and onscreen controls. Unfortunately, the whole shebang's only on display in Toronto for the time being. So, unless you're planning a trip to the Great White North anytime soon, the mini-doc after the break's about as close as you're going to get to the real thing.

Continue reading Audi goes arty, crafts A4 replica slot cars for 'quattro experience' installation (video)

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Audi